Trousers-pressing device.



J. F. THOMAS.

TROUSERS PRESSINGDEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I7. ISI?.

Famed Mar. 12, 19m

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JEAN/@mwa 'I f m I J. F. THOMAS.

TROUSERS PRESSING DEVICE. APPLIcAnoN man MAY H. 1911.

1,258,825. l Patented Mar. 12, i918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@thor/Mago JAMES IE. THOMAS, OF CLARINDA, IOWA.

TROUSERS-PRESSING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent. i Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

Application filed May 17, 1917. Serial'No. 169,272.

Y To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES F. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Clarinda, in the county of Page and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trousers-Pressing Devices; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. l

My invention relates tothat class of devices intended to be clamped upon the creases of trousers to press the same, and

the principal object is to provide a foldable device of this class which will thoroughly crease the trousers by strong spring pressure while the garment is lclamped therein.

In carrying out the above object, a further object is to provide a device which may fold compactly when not in use and which may also fold while the garment is clamped therein, thus permitting the device to be carried in a suit case.

A further object is to provide a novel construction whereby the trousers tl1emselves may act more or less as hinges upon which the device may fold the construction being such that folding of the clamps will not stretch the goods at the folding` line.

Yet another object is to provide auxiliary clamps at the ends of the main clamps, adapted to hold the cuits of the trousers before said main clamps are closed on theA creases. thus permitting the garment to be drawn taut to remove all wrinkles.

Another object is to provide an adjustable bar arrangement whereby the trousers are held so stretched as to prevent wrinkling and to remove any wrinkles which may exist when the device is applied to the garment.

A still further object is to construct the clamps with strong pressure so that the trousers may be thoroughly creased without heat, and to provide a simple and eiiicient means of pressing trousers at any time and in a very simple manner.

An additional object is to construct the clamps in a simple and inexpensive, yet in a highly efficient manner, said clamps being so made as to cause them to remain open when applying the device to the trousers.

view, the invention resides in the novel features of construction, and unique combinations of parts to be hereinafter fully de scribed and claimed, the descriptive matter being supplementedv by the accompanying drawings which form apart of this speciication and in which:

Figures 1 andv2 are elevations of the i opposite sides of the improved clamp, the latter view showing the device in condition for folding; l

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the plane of the line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

. Fig. 4 is asimilar view of the device in folded position;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the plane of the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical section on the plane indicated by the line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view showing more particularly one of the auxiliary clamps;

Fig. 8 is a detail end elevation showing a different form of hinge construction.

In the drawings above briefly described, the numerals 1 have reference to a pair of elongated clamps to receive therein the front and rear creases of a pair of trousers each of said clamps being formed of leaves 2 which are shown constructed of upper and lower sections, although any suitable number of such sections could well be employed. The meeting ends of the leaf sections at one side of each clamp, are connected by ahinge 3, whereas the ends of the sections at the other side of the clamps are free to recede from each other as the device is folded upon the hinges.

It is intended that the hinges 3 shall permit the device to fold compactly whether or not the garment is clamped therein and that one leaf of said hinges shall be adjusted to space the clamp section as in Fig. 2, when the clamps are to be folded` after application to the creases of the trousers. By so adjustingY the hinge leaves, the trousersV lthemselves may serve more or less as the j snap fasteners 4 such as those commonly l/Vith the foregoing general objects inv used on gloves and the-like, are shown in the drawings for illustrative purposes.

Any suitable means For forcing the clamps 1 away from each other after applying them to the creases of a garment, a plurality of transverse bars 5 and 5 are provided. rlhe bars 5 extend straight across the space between the tivi) clamps whereas the others 5 are positioned obliquely to brace the device. rlhe bars 5 are pivoted at one end to the leaf 2 of one of the clamps 1, whereas the other' ends thereof are equipped with studs 7 for reception in openings 8 in one leaf of the other clamp. rThe bars 5, however, are pivoted at 6 to the last named clamp and are formed with studs 7 forreception in openings 8 in the other. rlhis arrangement of bars and adjustable connections at one end thereof, is for illustrative purposes and any suitable construction may be employed.

At the lower ends of the clamps 1, auX- iliary clamps 1 are provided, said auxiliary clamps beingvadapted to grip the cuffs of the trousers before the clamps 1 are closed upon the front and rear creases along the trouser legs. By this means, said legs may be so stretched as to remove all Wrinkles therefrom before the clamps are closed.

Although any preferred means could well be employed for connecting the leaves 2 of the clamps 1, the outer edges Vof said leaves may be stamped so as to form respectively a longitudinal groove 9 and a longitudinal rib 10 in said groove to constitute a hinge upon which the two leaves may rock, C shaped spri-ngs 11 being clipped around said outer edges of the leaves as shown most clearly in Fig. 5. rl`he springs 11 not only serve to retain the grooves and ribs in operative relation, but act to close the clamps, which latter are by preference provided on their inner edges with projecting ears 12 whereby they may be easily opened.

Fig. 8 discloses the grooved and ribbed portions 9 and 10 respectively of the leaves 2. so constructed as to overcome the tension of the springs 1l when the clamp is opened, thus causing said clamp to remain in open position until closed by hand. lt is the frictional engagement of such portions, caused by the resiliency thereof, that causes the clamps to remain open. A

ln most cases, strips of felt or the like 13 will be cemented or otherwise secured to the inner faces of the several leaves 2, in order that they may effectively grip the garment.

In use, the two clamps are separatedby disengaging the studs 7 and 7', said clamps being then separately appliedto ythe front and 'rear creases of the trousers, taking care thatthe clamps 1 be first applied so that the garment may be stretched before the clamps clamps upon the hinges 3, the entire pressing device may be readily carried in a suit case while the trousers are gripped in said clamps. When this folding is done with the trousers in the device, it is necessary to first release the fasteners Ll so that the hinges 3 may be adjusted' to space the two sections of said clamps so as lto prevent stretching the trousers legs on the folding lines. lWere vit not for some such adjustable connection between the sections of the clamps, the folding thereof would stretch and injure the garnient.

l claim:

1. A trousers pressing device comprising a pair of elongated clamps to receive the creases of the garment, each clampvconsisting of a pair of leaves to grip the creases therebetween, each leaf being formed of a plurality of sections disposed end to end, hinges connecting the sections at one side of each clamp, each hinge being adjustably connected with one of said sections, to permit said sections to be moved away from each other .before folding, wherebyto pre vent stretching of the trousers wheiifolding.

2. A trousers pressing device consisting of a pair of metal strips, one having a 'longitudinal groove stamped in one edge and the other having stamped on its corresponding edge a longitudinal rib received Ain said groove, and C-shaped clamps clipped around said edges of the strips.

3. A trousers pressing device comprising a pair of clamps to receive `the creases of the garment, each clamp consisting of a pair of leaves whose outer ec ges are stamped to form interengaging ribs and grooves,v and C-shaped springs clipped around said edges to clamp the leaves together, one leaf of each clamp being slit transversely throughoutits width above its lowermost spring,'whereby to provide a pair of auxiliary clamps Vto grip the cuffs of the trousers when applying the device.

ln testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

F- IHMAS' lWitnesses:

WM. A. TURNER, C. W. BIsBEE.

@epics et this patent may be obtained. for jfivek cents each, by aglrcssingthe Commissioner or `@atenta Weshiastna D it 

